TODAY if you hear his voice

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Luke 4:18-21 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

When Jesus was given the book in the synagogue, he chose to read from this famous passage. This was in no doubt a very popular choice. This was a promise they read and reminded one another of when in bondage and difficulties, that one day… One beautiful day the Messiah would come and free them from bondage. He would heal the brokenhearted and deliver the captives. Surely they had heard this many times, and this promise comforted them through the times of bondage under the Romans. Maybe even someone leaned over and said: Good choice. We needed to hear this.

But Jesus was not reading to give them hope and comfort for the future. He closed the book and said: THIS DAY!! The day you have been waiting for has arrived. The day is here. Not tomorrow, and not next year but right here right now.

I wonder if we could receive and read a promise from the Bible and hear the words of Jesus: THIS DAY this is for you. “TODAY if you hear his voice” the Bible says. This is what Jesus tried to tell Martha and Mary by Lazarus grave. Stop saying if you were here. Stop saying in the future sometimes. I AM!!! the resurrection and the life. Give me THIS DAY!! Gøran ANdreassen

Additional scriptures for further study: Isaiah 9:1-7; Luke 19:9-10; John 4:35; Acts 2:22-36; 2 Korinther 6:2; Ephesians 1:3-14.